Improvement in arched trusses for bridges



E vTrusses for Bridges.

I Patented Aug. 29, 182|.

, I @mums fax l l @Umweg Q Jlritsllvlll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER L. WEIMER, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, J. A.

WEIMER, AND L. E. WEIMER, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARCHED TRUSSES FOR BRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,566, dated August29, 1871.

vwill enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of thisspecificatlon.

My invention consists in the improvement of bow-string bridges, ashereinafter fully described and subsequently pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is an elevation of an arched trussconstructed accord ing to my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalcrosssection of Fig. l taken on the line x Similar letters ofreferenceindicate corresponding parts.

A is the arch-truss. A lis the arch proper. B is the lattice-workconnecting the arch A and the chord. C is the chord. The arch A isformed of a series of cast-iron flanged segments, marked D, seen pl(inly in Fig. 2. E is a broad plate of boiler or wrought-iron, which isfirmly riveted over the top of the segments D and to the ends of thechord O, as represented. in the drawing. F is another broad wrought-ironplate, secured to the under sides of the segments, and also to the chordC, byY rivets. The chord C, it will be seen, is thus irlnly connectedwith the ends of the arch A. The chord-plate may be broader than thearch-plates, and all the plates may be broader in the middle than at theends. These broad plates (especially the broad chord) allow the bridgeor truss to resist lateral pressure, and add materially to the strengthof the structure. The lattice-slats B pass through mortises in the loweriian ges of the segments and the lower plate F, and are securely rivetedor bolted tothe segments, as seen in Fig. l. The lower ends of theseslats pass through mortises in the chord, beneath which they areconfined by keys, as represented, or in any other suitable manner. Thelattice-slats are riveted together where they intersect each other, asseen at G.

This arched truss is more particularly designed to be employed inbridge-building, but is not necessarily confined thereto; as it may beused for various other purposes.

Having thus described my invention., I claim as `new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- As an improvement in bow-string bridges, thecombination, with an upper chord formed of a central web of cast-ironstiened laterally by wrought-iron plates, of a lower chord formed of awide plate of boiler-iron placed horizontally, to give lateral strengthto the truss, as described.

P. L. WEIIMER.

Witnesses S. P. HABER, JOHN G. SHIRE.

